San Isidro Crisis

Consuelo Manyoma lived in San Isidro, an Afro-Colombian village, where families made their living off farming, logging, and fishing. Sadly San Isidro is subject to lots of crime, because it is a usual stop in for cocaine traffickers. International drug traffickers stop in San Isidro in order to sneak to Buenaventura, the countries largest port (Noriega). The constant sounds of gunshots worry villagers that they will be subjected to violence. After multiple gunfights, the disappearance of a villager, and imposed curfews, the people of San Isidro had enough. With the few possessions they could take with them, families climbed on to two busses to flee San Isidro. For decades Colombians have been forced to leave their homes. Since the country battles with conflict that against drug cartels, armed groups that all want power and territory (Noriega). Since leaving San Isidro, Consuelo Manyoma's family among others have lived packed inside the Crystal Coliseum for two years, a sports arena turned into a emergency shelter in Buenaventura (Noriega). Consuelo states, “It feels like living in a crystal ball with no way out” (Noriega).

Displaced family living in the Crystal Coliseum for the past two years (Christina Noriega).